POLICE had to be called after a council meeting descended into a shouting match as protesters clashed with councillors.
A packed gallery at the Middlesbrough Council meeting continually interrupted proceedings.
Mayor David Budd was continually shouted down as he tried to address the meeting and defend the council’s actions during the sale of several of the town’s assets including Acklam Hall.
Council chairman Steve Bloundell adjourned the meeting until the rowdy public were removed but a 20 minute stand-off ensued until security were brought in to clear the room.
However, tempers flared outside the town hall and Cleveland Police had to be called to restore order.
Earlier, dozens of campaigners turned out ahead of the meeting to show their opposition to plans to develop part of Middlesbrough town centre.
Residents are angry that the council plans to enable the redevelopment of the former Register Office and duck pond at one end of Centre Square.
Councillor Terry Lawton, who was recently thrown out of the Labour Party, helped organise the protest.
He said: “The purpose of this protest tonight is to show the Labour group that we are not prepared to have an office block destroying the centre of our town.”
And Andy Preston, who lost out in the last mayoral election in the town, added his voice to the campaign, saying the protest was about ‘democracy’ and listening to residents.
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